Incandescent light bulbs become a thing of the past, starting tomorrow

This has been a long time coming, but the day is finally here. On New Year’s Day, it officially becomes illegal for manufacturers to supply the Canadian market with general-purpose 75 and 100-watt incandescent light bulbs. From now on, because of energy-efficiency regulations that began to be adopted by the federal government in 2007, the only household bulbs available in those wattages will be the more-efficient compact-flourescent and LED models. Certain types of utility incandescent bulbs are exempt from the ban.

Downcast consumers can take solace in the fact that the new bulbs, while more expensive, can last between six and 40 times as long as the old ones—plus, retailers will be allowed to sell off their remaining stock of incandescents, so hoarding is an option. Halogen bulbs are also included in the ban, though the feds plan to exempt them in the near future. 60- and 40-watt incandescent bulbs are still legal for the time being, but a ban on them goes into effect at the end of 2014.